Warning Signs for Childhood Suicide

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Because childhood suicide tends to be a very impulsive act, it is often difficult to predict when children move from being generally at risk to being imminently in danger. One general warning sign is poor school performance that is not linked to intelligence. Other general warning signs include anxiety (including refusing to attend school), sleep disturbances, aggression, impulsivity, and low tolerance for frustration. Suicidal behaviors in this age group can be triggered by small incidents, which might seem trivial by adult standards. In a child with suicidal tendencies and poor coping skills, a small event, such as being yelled at by a teacher or teased by other children, can trigger a suicide attempt.

Because suicidal behaviors are so linked to impulsivity, prevention methods must include a more proactive approach to teaching social skills and problem-solving skills. It is extremely difficult to intervene at the time of imminent suicidal risk as it appears that most children who commit suicide do so because of opportunity (e.g., they find a gun, they jump from a window or in front of a car) rather than through planning. Therefore, intervention must be focused on children who are at risk in general, either through emotional, cognitive, or environmental risk factors.